How to disassemble Apple Mac Mini – how to remove the case – How to remove the logic board – How to remove and replace the optical diver - Laptop and desktop repair and service

Category: Laptop and Desktop Repair and Service

Contents of this article

How to remove the case

How to remove the logic board

How to remove the optical drive

Apple Mac Mini

DISASSEMBLING PROCEDURE

Place your thumbs in the depressions cut into the bottom
cover. Rotate the bottom cover counter-clockwise until the white dot painted on
the bottom cover is aligned with the ring inscribed on the outer case.

Tilt the mini enough to allow the bottom cover to fall
away from the outer case. Remove the bottom cover and set it aside.

Remove the two 11.3 mm T6 Torx screws securing the fan to
the logic board near the antenna plate.

Lift the ear of the fan nearest the RAM up off the
standoff secured to the outer case.

Lift the fan out of the mini for enough clearance to
access its connector. Carefully pull the fan cables upward to lift the fan
connector up out of its socket on the logic board. Remove the fan.

Remove the single 3.5 mm T6 Torx screw securing the
cowling to the heat sink.

Lift the cowling from the end nearest the antenna plate.
Rotate the cowling away from the outer case and remove it from the mini. Remove
the following screws securing the antenna plate to the mini:

Slightly lift the antenna plate from the end closest to
the RAM. Carefully pull the antenna plate straight away from the circular rim
of the outer case. Do not remove the antenna plate yet. It is still attached to
the AirPort/ Bluetooth board.

Use the tip of a spudger to carefully pry the antenna
connector up off the AirPort/Bluetooth board.

Carefully pull the wires for both hard drive thermal
sensors upward to lift their connectors up and out of the sockets on the logic
board.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry both the hard drive
and optical drive connectors up out of their sockets on the logic board.

To disconnect the optical drive hermal sensor, pinch its
cables between your thumb and a spudger and pry the spudger upward to lift he
connector up and out of its socket on the logic board.

Use the tip of a spudger to lift the IR sensor connector
up and out of its socket on the logic board.

To remove the logic board, two cylindrical rods must be
inserted into the holes highlighted in red. Inserting instruments into any
logic board holes other than the ones highlighted in red may destroy the logic
board.

Insert a Mac Mini Logic Board Removal Tool into the two holes highlighted in
red. Be sure it makes contact with the outer case below the logic board before
proceeding. If you don't have a Logic Board Removal Tool handy, you can use two
tools having a maximum diameter of 2.5 mm instead. Just insert one into each of
the highlighted holes.
Carefully pull the tool toward the I/O board. The logic board and I/O board
assembly should slightly slide out of the outer case. Cease prying when the I/O
board is visibly separated from the outer case. Remove the Mac Mini Logic Board
Removal tool.

Simultaneously push the two plastic clips on the far left
and right sides of the I/O board toward the middle of the I/O board and pull
the I/O board away from the outer case. Pull the I/O board/logic board assembly
out of the outer case enough to access the power connector. Use a pair of
tweezers to disconnect the power cable from the logic board.

Carefully slide the logic board assembly out of the mini,
minding any cables that may get caught. Remove the 7.9 mm T6 Torx screw
securing the power supply and optical drive to the outer case.

Pull the silver metal AC-In socket retainer away from the
side of the outer case and remove it from the mini.

Rotate the AC-In connector 90 degrees counter-clockwise.

Slide the power supply out of the mini, minding any
cables that may get caught. Remove the hard drive from the mini, minding any
cables that may get caught.

Remove the 7.9 mm T6 Torx screw securing the optical
drive to the outer case. Slide the optical drive out of the outer case, minding
any cables that may get caught.

Carefully de-route the IR sensor cables from the channel
in the optical drive bracket.

Remove the two 6.3 mm T6 Torx screws securing both sides
of the optical drive bracket to the optical drive (four screws total).

Remove the optical drive bracket from the optical drive,
minding any cables that may get caught. Carefully peel the optical drive ribbon
cable off the body of the optical drive.

Disconnect the optical drive cable by pulling its
connector away from the body of the optical drive. Peel off the strip of black
tape covering the optical drive thermal sensor.

Carefully pry the optical drive thermal sensor off the
adhesive securing it to the optical drive. It may be necessary to use a strip
of tape or rubber cement to attach the thermal sensor to your new optical drive.